His Purpose, Not My Plans

I move to Columbia in less than a week. I start rush week (to join a sorority) one week from today. I start college classes two weeks from today. It's coming fast. Faster than I expected. Everyone kept telling me, the summer will fly by! Start getting dorm stuff together! Enjoy your friends! Spend time with your family! You'll be gone before you know it! And whoa, they were so totally right. My dining room has been taking over by things that I'm taking to USC with me. I have spent countless nights with my friends, especially the ones who won't be going to the same school as me. And believe me, I have spent lots and lots of time with family. I mean, we did spend 14 days together 24/7 at the beginning of the summer. I keep reminding myself of so many things to do. I need to buy this. I have to do this before I go. I really need to go see ___, before I leave. It's stressful and I haven't even gotten there yet! But in all seriousness, I'm worki...

EUROPE. I went to Europe. Well, actually, dad took Austin and I to Europe. And it was awesome. You see, it all started when I was in the fourth grade. Dad made me a deal that if I made good grades through high school and got a scholarship to put me through college that he would take us on a big trip. Well, I suppose my grades were sufficient and my scholarship was rather nice. Fast forward to Christmas 2014. Austin and I are given matching presents on Christmas morning. We open up the wrapping to find a small folded up paper. Then we open the paper. And we found this. Obviously we were super excited. I mean how could we not be?  We were told we were going in June, three days after I graduated.  (Hello busy month.) And we were also informed that we would start in Italy, go up into Switzerland, over to France, and end up in England.  And then lots and lots and lots and lots of life happened. Before we knew it, we were packing for our trip. ...

Helllloooo blogging world. I'm back. It's been quite the month, let me tell you. So much so that it'll probably take me more than one blog post. One thing at a time. A month ago today exactly, I graduated high school. Me. Little Alana Tyler. Graduated high school. Now, I'll be honest. Some days.. I never thought graduation would get here. It felt like forever away. And yet, before I knew it.. BAM it was here. And now I'm an official West Florence High School Alumni. Also, yes, everyone who told me that "it will fly by!" and "it'll be here before you know it!"… You were right. Senior year flew by. Straight over my head. It was full of long days and fun nights, football games and tennis matches, and lots of memories. I can't believe it's over. But really, I can't believe I'm done with school. I mean college, yes that's definitely for sure school for the next four years. But elementary, middle, high.. it...

My heart is heavy. And so when my heart is heavy, all I want to do is write. So here I am. I'm not trying to cause any form of controversy or anything, I just want to say what I want to say. And where else to say it but on my own blog. There was this awful shooting last night in Florence. A guy who just graduated with me from West Florence a few weeks ago was killed. It's weird to know someone who was involved in something like this. The young man who died? It's not him that I knew actually. I had heard of his name before, but I've never met him or been around him. No, I know the young man who they just arrested for his murder. Bet you didn't see that coming, did you? I know this kid through EFM of all places. He's 17, the same age as me. He was kicked out of South for fighting, and sent to Rush. He did some community service hours as EFM. He helped me countless times in my classroom, setting up tables and chairs, cleaning windows, taking out t...

So I wrote a blog about this already. Like typed out a whole long thing. And then deleted it because I decided I really just didn't like it. So I'm back for round two, which I will hopefully love and keep and post. You see I'm being really particular about this post. Because this is it. My final post about my kids. Well at least my final post about my kids being MY kids. East Florence Mission Tuesday Night Bible Study is over. My classroom is empty. The materials are packed away in boxes. The papers have all been passed out. And my time as a teacher is over. Notice the new carpet and paint.. donated by one church, and installed by another. So grateful. And it's really really really sad. I've had several people tell me that "oh you must be glad to not have to worry about it anymore". And yes, that's kinda true. I'm thankful to be done with lesson planning, and having to raise my voice, and rushing around Florence to buy things f...